Young Boys Late goal frustrates Liverpool Manager Rodgers

23 November 2012 06:47

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers bemoaned his side's inability to hang on to victory after conceding a late equaliser to Young Boys at Anfield.

Jonjo Shelvey and Joe Cole had twice given the home side the lead either side of Raul Bobadilla's impressive equaliser only for Elsad Zverotic to snatch a draw two minutes from time.

It leaves Liverpool heading to Italy to face Udinese needing to avoid defeat and then at least match Young Boys' result against Anzhi to progress to the knockout stage. "It is very frustrating," said Reds boss Rodgers, who confirmed defender Andre Wisdom was substituted in the first half as a precaution with a knee problem.

"We were leading twice in the game and we missed a hatful of chances and then to concede like we did at the end at the end was very disappointing. We were in control of the game with a few minutes to go and that is for our learning. We are walking back in the 87th minute and it is a disappointing goal when you analyse it from every aspect.

"When you are winning at home you don't need to commit and leave yourselves isolated and that is something we will improve on. Young Boys have won home and away against Udinese and you can see the flexibility in their game is very good.

"We are disappointed when you get 2-1 up with three or four minutes to go you have to control the game better and show better game management. We have to do better than that but it is a point and we move on to the next game in the tournament.

"We have to get a good result and match the result of Young Boys. We wanted to qualify and that was the ambition but it wasn't to be. We have to move on as we have an important game on Sunday (against his former club Swansea) and we'll take the next Europa League game when it comes up."

Cole had one of his better games in a Reds shirt, scoring his first goal for the club since April 2011.

"Joe Cole gave everything. It was a terrific pass to Suso early in the game to set up the first goal and he gets his finish for the second. There was a number of positives," added Rodgers. "I think he is still not 100% but he came in and was much better in his offensive part of his game.

"He was clever and bright in between people and that is the nature of those guys at the top end of the field: they have to create goals and score goals."